Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!Consult your Local Building Department about Permits and Inspections for all Electric Wiring Projects.

Electrical Tips to Help You Wire it Right

The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wires!

The Non-Contact Electrical Tester
This is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester that I use to easily Detect Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.

The Quickest Way to Check for Faulty Electrical Wiring!

The Plug-In Outlet Tester
This is the first tool I grab to troubleshoot a problem with outlet circuit wiring. This popular tester is also used by most inspectors to test for power and check the polarity of circuit wiring.
It detects probable improper wiring conditions in standard 110-125 VAC outlets
Provides 6 probable wiring conditions that are quick and easy to read for ultimate efficiency
Lights indicate if wiring is correct and indicator light chart is included
Tests standard 3-wire outlets
UL Listed
Light indicates if wiring is incorrect
Very handy and easy to use.

Strip Off Wire Insulation without Nicking and Damaging the Electric Wire!

The Wire Stripper and Wire Cutter
My absolute favorite wire stripping tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and this is the tool I use to safely strip electrical wires.
This handy tool has multiple uses:
The wire gauges are shown on the side of the tool so you know which slot to use for stripping insulation.
The end of the tool can be used to grip and bend wire which is handy for attaching wire onto the screw terminals of switches and outlets..

The wire stripper will work on both solid and stranded wire. This tool is Very Handy and Easy to Use.

Hi Gordon,
Six baseboard heaters on one thermostat sounds like quite a load, and you have not provided information about watts, so lets be sure about the electrical circuit integrity: The electrical circuit must be sized for the total connected load of all of the heaters and this must follow the guidelines as stated within the installation manual of the baseboard heater manufacturer as well as all the applicable electrical codes, and the circuit wiring should be installed by permit and inspected. I am mentioning this because thermostats rarely burn out unless the circuit is overloaded, so we want to be sure the circuit has been installed correctly according to code and not overloaded. With that in mind, make sure that the thermostat is rated for the combined load of all six baseboard heaters and make sure that the 240 volt circuit connections are correct.
TESTING A 240 VOLT CIRCUIT: On a 240 volt circuit there should be a 120 volt reading to ground for each circuit conductor, and a 240 volt reading between the two circuit conductors. If these readings are correct then there may be a problem with the electric baseboard heaters, but that is unlikely. You may try removing all but one heater from the circuit wiring and see if the problem persists, but again, make sure the circuit is correct and installed according to the installation manual and applicable electrical codes for electric heaters.
Be Safe!
Dave